Vladimir Putin is world`s most powerful man, Donald Trump at second spot: Forbes

State of New York: Vladimir Putin was the world`s most powerful person for a fourth straight year in 2016, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday in its annual rankings.

US President-elect Donald Trump is in the second place.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ranks ninth on the Forbes list of 74 of the World's Most Powerful People.

"Russia`s President has exerted his country`s influence in nearly every corner of the globe," the US business magazine wrote.

"From the motherland to Syria to the US Presidential Elections, Putin continues to get what he wants."

The 64-year old Russian leader is "unconstrained by conventional global norms (and) his reach has magnified in recent years," Forbes said.

The magazine wrote that at number two, Trump, who takes over the US presidency in a little more than a month, "has a seeming immunity to scandal, both houses of Congress on his side, and a personal net worth in the billions."

Trump, who was elected US president last month, was listed 72nd in Forbes` 2015 power rankings.

Third place this year went to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been at the helm of Europe`s economic powerhouse for 11 years and announced plans to run for re-election next year.

Barack Obama, who placed second in 2015, plummeted to 48th place this year as he waits out the final weeks of his presidency, with his Democratic Party ousted from the White House after Trump`s shock election win and out of power in Congress.

The list includes China`s President Xi Jinping on the 4th spot, Pope Francis (5), Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (7), Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (10), French President Francois Hollande (23), Apple CEO Tim Cook (32), North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (43) and ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (57).

Forbes said it assesses the influence of "hundreds of candidates from various walks of life all around the globe" as it compiles its annual list, which this year has on it 74 powerful movers and shakers.

(With Agency inputs)